Dec 18, 2023

The Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes (the Inquiry) today delivered its report to the Governor of New South Wales.

The Commissioner, Honourable Justice John Sackar, presented the report to Her Excellency, the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, at a meeting at Government House in Sydney this morning.

The Inquiry looked into all the unsolved deaths of LGBTIQ people (or people presumed to be LGBTIQ) that may have been hate crimes between 1970 and 2010. The report includes the Commissioner’s findings and recommendations.

For eighteen months, a team of independent barristers, solicitors and investigators combed through more than 150,000 documents drawn from 40 years of police files, coronial files, and other sources in relation to LGBTIQ hate-related deaths.

In a series of public hearings, the deaths of 32 people were examined. The report contains the Commissioner’s findings as to the manner and cause of each death.

The Inquiry also looked at social, legal and cultural factors affecting the LGBTIQ community. It has heard from historians, advocates, writers, and others with lived experience of the period, including experience of the violence against the LGBTIQ community during that time.

Also under the spotlight has been the nature of the relationship between the LGBTIQ community and the NSW Police Force over the 40-year period, including the police response to violence and deaths suspected of being hate crimes.

Information about past hearings, including transcripts (external link) and videos (external link) , can be found on the Inquiry’s website.

Enquires about the release of the report should be directed to the Premier’s Office.

Media seeking further information about the work of the Inquiry can visit our website or contact the Senior Media Adviser at [email protected]